Breaking Wonderland: Though the Looking Glass

BTAS (Batman Animated Series)

(Sequel to Breaking Wonderland: Alice in Chains) Mad Hatter is back in Arkham and Alice is out and about in Gotham. Will Jervis be able to stay in Arkham or will something or someone persuade him otherwise.

Chapter 2: Therapy

The sound of the door slamming shut meant the start of his one on one session with Dr. Amanda Richardson. Jervis sat lazily on his respective chair, his right hand on his temple, his left on the metal arm rest. His pointer finger tapping nervously on the metal armrest causing a small gentle thunk. Dr. Richardson brought out her manilla folder and sat behind her desk. She clicked her pen wrote down a few notes before closing the previous folder and placing it behind his. He briefly caught a glimpse of the name and read it, Crane. Immediately Jervis turned red as he was still furious with him after the things he'd done to him and Alice.

"Ahem," Dr. Richardson cleared her throat. Tetch grimaced as a response but said nothing. She opened his manilla folder and read it briefly. "Okay Mr. Tetch it seems we've gotten no where in our last session. Perhaps this time things will be different?" she asked, trying her best to lighten the mood. Tetch continued his finger tapping ignoring Dr. Richardson. She sighed as she leaned forward and placed her elbows on her desk, cupping her hands together as she propped up her chin. She stayed silent for a moment examining Jervis, deciding the best tactic to go with. "Right, so you're going to continue to be difficult I see," she started again. "Look Jervis, I'm going to be real clear, I know something happened between you and Alice," she stated daringly. Jervis' head jerked up, staring at her, his face pale with shock. Dr. Richardson perked a brow. "As Batman stated he found you two embracing each other. Sadly Alice will not go into that as well-"

"Isn't that a breach of ethics, Dr. Richardson?" Jervis finally responded. Dr. Richardson leaned back surprised by his comment she grabbed her pen and clicked it. She was ready to take notes.

"Ethics? I'm surprised you even considered using that word, Mr. Tetch," Dr. Richardson replied back. "So are you finally ready to speak to me now? Are you ready to progress through your therapy?" Dr. Richardson asked.

"How long do I have to wait before I'm released from this... poor excuse for a Wonderland?" he asked looking around the office as if he was watching a vulture circle him.

"That depends on you, Mr. Tetch," she replied curtly.

"Depends on what?!" Jervis responded loudly.

"It depends if I and other board members deem you fit to dwell with the rest of society," Dr. Richardson responded.

"Well fine! What does the chess pieces want me to do?" Jervis responded too eagerly. He let his guard down and he knew it. Dr. Richardson sighed.

"The last time you were here in Arkham Jervis, you were quite intent into taking things slow. Now you seem to be balling with energy about your release. Would you like to discuss why?" Dr. Richardson asked. Jervis leaned back as he gulped. It was true he was losing his composure. Ever since he'd be brought back to Arkham he'd been slowly but surely losing to the urge to be with Alice. Though parts of him wanted to do the right thing and be formally released from Arkham and start anew.

"I- I don't know what you're talking about," Jervis finally responded. Dr. Richardson shook her head as she wrote.

"I'm a Doctor, Jervis," she replied sarcastically. Jervis crossed his arms and bit his tongue.

"Oh alright, I just can't stand being anywhere near that confounded Crane," Jervis lied through his teeth. Dr. Richardson started scratching something out of her notes.

"I see... as I understand it, Crane kidnapped Alice. I can see why you could be upset. Like I stated before it's going to take some time to get over that anger with Crane. There's nothing you can do you're both stuck here Jervis. Perhaps if you participated in group therapy more-"

"And what about him?!" Jervis blurted out standing out of his chair. "Every word I let out, Crane snickers, groans, and makes ghastly facial gestures! Where's the just in that? What about him?" he implored Dr. Richardson.

"Believe me, when I say this Mr. Tetch. I've been working on Jonathan as well. It seems stubbornness is abundant trait in Arkham," Dr. Richardson replied strongly. Jervis went silent as he sat down crossing his arms again. "Though I'm sure you already know that, sooner or later you're going to have to make your peace with Crane," she continued. Jervis just looked away. "Okay let's change the topic to the real reason you want to be released," Dr. Richardson added. Jervis' eyes widen. "I'm pretty sure it has something to do with Alice," Dr. Richardson looked down writing on her notepad.

"I-I still don't know what you're talking about," Jervis stuttered again. His heart began to beat faster, his stomach began to flutter and his mouth became dry. Dr. Richardson let out a small smirk.

"Look, Jervis if you want to get out of here, then perhaps it's time to open up," Dr. Richardson said as a matter of fact. Jervis leaned back against the chair, knowing this was dangerous territory.

"How so?" he asked against his own well. Dr. Richardson placed down her pen and smiled.

"Well depending on your interactions with Alice we could perhaps judge if you're closer to release than you are now," Dr. Richardson stated sweetly. Jervis let out a lopsided grin as he shifted in his chair.

"How do you know if my interactions with Alice were good or not?" Jervis let out suspiciously. Dr. Richardson coughed.

"Well if they weren't... I would have known by now and besides, as Batman reported, Alice was hugging you. A person afraid of someone isn't about to hug the person they're afraid of all of a sudden," Dr. Richardson stated plainly back to her professional self. Jervis looked toward the ground giving some thought to Dr. Richardson's words. "Alice is a good person and she isn't stupid. There was a reason why she felt secure enough to hug you, Jervis," Dr. Richardson continued as she looked over her notes. Jervis was quiet. If Dr. Richardson can figure out that much then who knows what she already knows. Though the way she prods it seems she doesn't seem to know anything at all, just logical blind guesses. Was Alice holding out on her as well? If so why? Jervis took a deep breath, he was stuck. He didn't know what to do.

"I-I" he slipped out. "I'm not ready to discuss about me and Alice just yet," he finally finished. He looked down sadly. Dr. Richardson let out a long sigh.

"I understand, Jervis," she said sincerely as she placed down her pen. "That's all, I'll see you in group therapy," she said as she stood up and placed her files in the file cabinet.

Jervis stood up and left the room. He carefully strolled toward the gardens since he didn't want to run into anyone in the recreation room. The garden's were still a mess. The wall was fully built back up but other parts were still on the process on being repaired. Since Ivy's absence the gardens weren't as beautiful as they were before. He walked on the dirt paths, he kicked a piece of rubble toward the side. A small smile crossed his face. His Alice caused all this. His Alice also caused the purple-green bruise on the side of Crane's face as well. Jervis stopped and shook his head, he let out a deep sigh. Why was he thinking his Alice. He was long past that, he knew Alice wasn't his. He wondered about the words Dr. Richardson said. Jervis was confused, a part of him wanted to escape Arkham immediately and be with Alice now. Another part of him wanted to do the honest thing and be released. Then other thoughts entered his head, what if Alice changed her mind while he's in Arkham and decides to stay away? Would he be able to bare it? Jervis placed his hands in his pockets and walked around the gardens, wondering what to do next.